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Computerworld - HTC's Droid Incredible will hit Verizon Wireless on April 29 for $200 after rebate and a two-year contract, with online pre-orders starting on April 19.

The new Droid Incredible is a cousin of the Motorola Droid and the HTC Droid Eris, also on Verizon, but Incredible compares best to the HTC-built Nexus One, originally only sold via Google online and with service from T-Mobile USA, but coming soon to Sprint Nextel.

Incredible runs Android 2.1 with the newest version of HTC's Sense user interface, which offers users a seven-panel homescreen, meaning they can quickly navigate to any one of seven open applications or close one through a pinch called "Leap" on the homescreen.

Nexus One also runs Android 2.1, but has a 5-megapixel camera, compared with Incredible's 8-megapixel camera. Both have similar touchscreen displays, of 3.7 inches, WVGA AMOLED and 800x480 pixels.

Droid Incredible uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 1GHz processor, a first for a Verizon phone, but also the same as the Nexus One.

In sum, Droid Incredible has a better camera, and a quicker-to-use interface than Nexus One, but also offers Verizon as the carrier. Those factors could matter to users weighing the next version of top-selling iPhone on OS 4.0, and whether the AT&T iPhone exclusive continues -- all unknowns.

Best Buy is reported to be planning to sell the phone pre-sale on April 18 for $200 without a need for a rebate.

Verizon requires a two year commitment to a Nationwide Talk plan at a minimum of $40 a month, plus a commitment to an e-mail and internet plan, for another minimum of $30.

Matt Hamblen covers mobile and wireless, smartphones and other handhelds, and wireless networking for Computerworld. Follow Matt on Twitter at  @matthamblen or subscribe to Matt's RSS feed. His e-mail address is mhamblen@computerworld.com.

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